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ARRABE, ISRAEL — The wave of violence plaguing Israel’s Arab community claimed yet another young life on Monday morning when 18-year-old Qasem Asala was shot dead in the town of Arrabe in the Lower Galilee.
According to police, Asala was traveling with his father to work at around 6:30 a.m. when an unidentified assailant ran toward their vehicle and opened fire. Multiple shots struck Asala in the upper body before the gunman fled the scene on foot.
Emergency responders from Magen David Adom (MDA) arrived quickly, but paramedics were forced to declare the teenager’s death at the scene. His father, who was present in the car, escaped unharmed but was treated for shock.
Police confirmed that officers had launched an investigation and were searching for the suspect. “We are pursuing all leads to identify and apprehend the shooter,” a police spokesperson said, noting that early indications suggest the attack was criminally motivated.
The killing brings the number of Arab-Israelis slain in crime-related incidents this year to 210, according to figures from the Abraham Initiatives, a non-governmental organization tracking violence within Israel’s Arab sector. Of those, 178 victims died from gunshot wounds, and 103 were under the age of 30.
At this same point in 2024, there had been 198 such victims, marking a 7 percent increase in deadly violence despite repeated government pledges to combat organized crime and strengthen policing in Arab towns.
Community leaders and rights advocates have repeatedly accused the authorities of failing to protect Arab citizens from escalating criminal violence, citing slow investigations and inadequate enforcement. The Abraham Initiatives described the figures as “deeply alarming,” calling for urgent and sustained government intervention.
The most recent murder prior to Asala’s death occurred on Thursday in Tamra, another Arab town in northern Israel. In that incident, Mohammed Hajazi, a man in his 50s, was fatally shot inside his home, while his wife was moderately injured. Police believe that case also stemmed from a criminal dispute.
Residents in Arrabe and neighboring towns expressed grief and frustration following Asala’s death. “We are losing our sons every week,” one local resident said. “The government only talks but doesn’t act.”
As the violence continues to rise, community activists warn of a generation growing up in fear and distrust of law enforcement. With most cases still unsolved, many families say they have lost faith in justice.
The latest tragedy underscores a grim reality — for many Arab-Israelis, daily life has become shadowed by gunfire, grief, and an urgent plea for safety that remains unanswered.